Irishman held in Bangkok prison over Red Shirt riots

AN IRISHMAN is under arrest in a Bangkok prison while his role in the recent Red Shirt disturbances in the Thai capital, in which at least 85 people died, is being investigated.

Conor David Purcell made regular appearances addressing major Red Shirt rallies in Bangkok’s occupation zone during the weeks of rioting in which some protesters and the Thai army exchanged gun fire.

Mr Purcell, a 29-year-old graduate and teacher, claims to have been shot during the disturbances.

Most of his public speeches at the Red Shirt rallies were highly critical of the Thai regime and demanded “democratic elections now”.

He may now be charged with violating emergency decree laws imposed during the two-month Red Shirt protest in Bangkok. If convicted he would face a two-year sentence. However, it is possible he may face more serious charges that would carry much longer terms of imprisonment.

Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has specifically mentioned Mr Purcell. He said the Irishman, who also holds an Australian passport, is suspected of having a broader role in the Red Shirt movement.

Mr Purcell, who has been under arrest for a week, is due in court again in Bangkok on Thursday. He has already appeared before Pathumwan Municipal Court in the city shackled in leg irons and barefoot, wearing an orange and brown prison issue uniform of shorts and shirts.

According to international media coverage of his court appearance, Mr Purcell shouted at the judge saying he did not recognise the authority of the court.

“I’m not under Thai law. I’m only obeying international law. I’m head of the red gang,” he is reported to have shouted.

Mr Purcell, who has been living in Australia in recent years, claims he was shot and wounded by the Thai army during the recent street disturbances and says he and people he was with were deliberately targeted with tear gas. He claims both of his hips have become infected in prison from his gunshot wounds.

The Irish Timesunderstands Mr Purcell was born in Ireland and was brought up here. It appears he emigrated to Australia, settling in Perth, while still in his teens and claims to have been in the Australian army for seven years.

He also claims to have done “quite extensive” work with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and to have trained with the Singapore and Malaysia armies.

It is not clear what part of Ireland he is from.

Footage of him addressing Red Shirt rallies has appeared on the internet in which he is heard speaking with a mix of Irish and Australian accents.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the department was aware of Mr Purcell. The spokesman said Mr Purcell was being assisted by Australian consular services because he had travelled to Thailand on his Australian passport.

In an interview with the Sunday Bangkok Post, Mr Purcell said he studied political science at the University of Western Australia. He is believed to have spent a period teaching English in South Korea before going to Thailand late last year.

He describes himself as an admirer of former Thai president Thaksin Shinawatra’s, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and to whom the Red Shirts are loyal.

Mr Purcell claims to have become radicalised when he witnessed riots in Bangkok on April 10th that left 25 people dead.

“The criminality on that day was very similar to Bloody Sunday in Ireland,” he said.

In the interview with the Sunday Bangkok Post, which was given before he was wounded and arrested, he claimed to be working for the Red Shirts' legal and public relations team and that he had an unspecified role acting as a go-between the Red Shirts and the Thai army.